Vending show case



Nov. 13, 1928.

E. F. BISHOP VENDING SHOW CASE Filed June 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l :l Z L3l IIIIII Ill ATTORNEY K m TP NU ww ,15 F. my

Nov. 13, 1928.

E. F. BISHOP VENDING SHOW CASE `Film1 June 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dl- 4 Il lmw.

Patented` Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED `STATE-'s PATENT OFFICE.

-EZRA F. BISHOP, 'or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoROI ONE-HALF To ROY W.

-' DIMOCK, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

' VENDING SHOW onen;

Application filed June` 2s, 192e. serial N o. 11s-,003.r

My invention relates to a show case of the type arranged to have all merchandise displayed. therein completely under cover so that surreptitious removal or undue eXposureof theA merchandise may lie-prevented, but which may be manipulated by the vendor to .give a customer full access to the contents whereby the latter may choose and Withdraw from the case the particular article desired without assistance from the vendor. Y y

An objectof the invention is to provide a. show case of the characterfdescribed having a plurality of independently-protected merchandise-.display compartments,y .access to each one of whichfthils to all the merchandise *displayed in the case-may be given Vtothe customer by a single operation on the part of the vendor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a show case of the character described, in which the merchandise is elevated or moved toward the customer at the same time as access to the same is given him.,l

A further object .of thefinvention is to provide a show case with the foregoing advantages, which is dust proof, @simple 1n constructiom yand very easy to operate.

The invention .possesses other'objects vand features of advantage, .some of which7` with the foregoing, will be set orthin the follow? ing description of the preiierredV form of my invention which, is illustrated in the dravv` ings` accompanying and forming l,pa-,rt oit the specification. It is to be understood .that I d o not limit myself to` the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations .of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in `the claims,

Referring to said drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sectional views of the show case of my invention-` ,respectively showingthe same lin closed and .Open positions,-

Figure 3 isa rear elevation ofthe case, the, scale .of .the figure beingl somewhat reduced. Y

Figures 4 `and 5 are views vsimilar to Figures 1 and 2,"but showing a modified form of the case.v y l illustrated in the preferred embodiment of my' invention the case comprises a body 6 having front and rear Walls 7 and 8, sides 9, and a bottom 10 a door 11 being provided for'closing an opening 12 which is formed in therear wall 8 and through which access maybe had to the interior of Athe case, Mountedin the body for movementl relativev thereto is a unit 13 which is arranged tocarry the .merchandise for the display and vending of which the case is adaptedfor use. The unit is provided with side walls 14v and a front wall 15 `which are arranged to slida-bly engage the corresponding walls of the body, proper .bearing surfaces being preferably provided between the opposingwalls. Formed at the upper portion of the Vunitaire a setofhorizontally-extending mecha'ndise receiving compartments 17 arranged in steps progressing upwardly and rearwardly. As here shown each compartment comprises a bottom shelf '18, a back plate 18', and al transparent .top plate 19, access to the merchandise in the compartments being afforded throngh'an opening 21 at the front thereof.

The openings 21 are arranged to be fully covered by transparent glass plates 22 which are` vertically disposed and are. fixed tothe body 6 ofithe case. It will thus be noted that the merchandise 23 in the c ompartments are completely protected when the openings 21 are closed, but that by reason ofthe provision ofV glass front and top plates, such merchandise is; fnlly visible, and

body. lhen, as'illustrated in Figure l, they unit is in a lowered position, the ,openings 21y will be completely covered bythe fixed plates 22, and top plates 19.wh-ich it will be noted project forwardly beyond the plates Qhwill 'rest`v thereon and thusseal the" comlll partment. However, When the unit is ele vated as illustrated in Figure 2, the openings in each of the compartments Will have moved sufficiently clear of the plates 22, to afl'ord the customer ready access to the con-- tents, and the merchandise Will havey been moved directly up to him. l i

Movement of the unit is here shown arranged to be effected by means of a single crank 24 which is fixed for rotation With a drinn 26 mounted on a cross piece 27 Vof the body. Vound on the drum and attached atl its ends to lugs 28 and 29 fixed to the unit.

a cable 31 by means of which as willbc readily understood the rotative movement ofl the crank is transferred to Irectilinear move- .ient of the' unit. Counterbalancing of the unit to render the operation thereof `With a minimum effort on the part of the vendor, is preferably effected by means of a weight' which is carried by cables 33 passing over vsheaves 34 suitably secured to the body, the

free ends of the cables being attached to lugs 36 Afixed to sides 9 of the unit. It will now be evident thatV a most effectively operating, but simple structure is provided.

In 'Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a modified form of the invention. Inthis embodimentthe merchandisesupporting unit 40 is arranged to slide-horizontally in the body 41, and conversely of the arrangement existing in Figures 1 to3, the glass top plates 42 of the nevvereinbodiment are fixed to the body Whereas the front plates 43 are carried by the unit for movement with the compartments. Normally,`as shown in Figure 4, theiinitl is in a retracted position and the openings 44 to the compartments are closed by the top plates 42, however by merely sliding the unit forwardly toward the customer the openings 44 will beuncovered and the customer will `be given full access to all of the compartments. `Aftery the customer has been served, the vendor may draw the unit back into the body and the merchandise in the compartment vvill again be covered and protected. p

l. In a vending shoy case, a body, a merchandise supporting unit slidable vertically in said body and comprising horizontally extending merchandise holding compartments arranged in upwardly aiid rearwardly progressing steps, and having an opening across thepfront thereof through which ac? cessl may be had tothe compartment from the exterior of the case, vertically disposed transparent plates fixed to said body and so positioned relative to said compartments.

whereby they may seal said openings in one position of the unit or be to one side of said openings in another position of said unit and thereby permit access to the merchandise.

2. In a vending show case, a body, a merchandise supportingV unit mounted to 'slide vertically therein and comprising merchandise holding horizontally-extending con pertinents arranged in upwardly and rearwardly progressing steps/*and each being open at the front thereof, and independent vertically extending transparent plates fixed to said body and so positioned relative .to

`ent plates arranged' one above the other in differenty vertical planes, merchandise hold ing compartments each having an opening therein for giving access thereto from thel einV p teriorofthe case and arranged to be closed by said plates, and means for movement" ofl said compartments simultaneously so as to remove saidV openings from said closure plates land thereby permit accessfto all of said` compartments at the .same time.,l

4.l A vending show-case in accordance with claim "3 characterized by said comparti ments being arranged to lie in a hi when said openings are exposed ianivhen said openings are covered the'plates.

5. In a vending show case, a body, a inem'- be'r providinga merchandise lioiding'compart-ment mounted for movement relativeto said body, said Vcompartment having an opening for permitting access thereto from the exterior of the case, transparent closure members fixedly positioned ivithrespect to said body Whereby'said opening will be engaged thereby or removed therefromV in different positions of saidl compartment, and means for 'counterbalancing said "compartment in its different positions. p A

6; In'a vending'shoiv case, a body, a merchandisesupporting unit mounted therein forfreciprocative' movement relative thereto and comprising aplurality of horizontal' and lixedly related vshelves arranged in,v up'ivardly and rearwardly progressing steps, a pair of transparent plates associated with each shelf and arranged toudeiine a closure for the merchandise thereon,y oneV ofthe fplates ofeach pair being fixed to said unit and extending perpendicular to the plane of movement thereof, the other of said plates being fixed t said body and extending coplanar ivith said movement andso positioned relative to .said shelving that'in one position'of said unitthel second mentioned plates vvill cooperate with the first-to shield thek merchandise' on lthe shelves, Whereas inanother position of said unit the shelving Will beV suiiiciently out of the range of said second cher plane izo plates to afford access to said merchandise from the exterior of the case, means for counterbalancing said merchandise Supporting unit vin its different positions, and hand operated means for moving said unit from one position to another.

7. In a vending show case, a body, a mer-` chandise supporting unit mounted thereon for reciprooative movement relative thereto and comprising a plurality of merchandise supporting shelves, a transparent plate associated with each sheliL and so related to its shelf as to provide a closure for the merchandise on the shelil when said unit isin one position With respect to the body and to permit access to said merchandise when the unit is in another position thereof,l and means for counterbalancing said unit in its different positions.

8. In a vending show case, a plurality of iXed transparent plates, merchandise holding compartments each having an opening therein for giving access thereto from the exterior of the case and arranged to be normally closed by said plates, and means for' leffecting like movementsv of said compart- EZRA F, BISHOP. 

